dibber25 Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 Around about now I chalk up 50 years since I started as a Junior Editorial Assistant on Model Railway Constructor in the Autumn of 1963. Backscene in Model Rail issue 189 is likely to be a bit special as I've been unearthing one or two of my oldest bits and pieces to feature. I shall be at the Warley show as usual, and will be pleased to see as many old friends from the hobby as possible. CHRIS LEIGH Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edcayton Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 Well done Chris, and I'm sure that I speak for all of us when I say Thanks for all you've done over the years. Ed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted October 11, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 11, 2013 Congratulations Chris - there can't be many who've achieved that over the years. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 Well done, Chris. A rarity indeed. I've always enjoyed your work over the years. Best, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_long Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 Congrats, incidently i've just bought the Model railway constructor annual for 1985, some really good articles other than what I wanted it for, (Bartlett HEA drawings). Here's to the next fifty..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xerces Fobe2 Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 Well done Chris -Will there be a limited edition figure of you in 2, 4 &7 mm with DCC working arms, legs and what options will there be to for location of the chip ? LOL Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Y Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 Congratulations Chris, a magnificent achievement. Maybe they'll let you have an extra hour off for lunch. ;-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozexpatriate Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 Congratulations Chris, that's quite a milestone! (Or in railway speak, should that be milepost?) Either way, well done. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted October 12, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 12, 2013 Congratulations. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRDBLUE17 Posted October 12, 2013 Share Posted October 12, 2013 Congratulations Chris, always enjoy back scene and the rest of the work done on Model Rail over the years. Thanks Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PaulRhB Posted October 12, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 12, 2013 Keep up the good work Chris, I keep an eye on your Canaduan exploits too Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markeg Posted October 12, 2013 Share Posted October 12, 2013 Congratulations Chris on such a marvellous acheivement. Have enjoyed you input into my modelling skills. God bless MArk in OZ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandwich station Posted October 12, 2013 Share Posted October 12, 2013 Congratulations Chris. I've enjoyed reading many of your articles over the years. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold grandadbob Posted October 12, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 12, 2013 Anyone who manages to chalk up 50 years in a career these days is in my book a bit special. To manage it doing something you obviously love is just fantastic. Many many congratulations. Bob. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJS1977 Posted October 12, 2013 Share Posted October 12, 2013 Congratulations, Chris, and thanks! One of my first grown-up railway books was the '84 Constructor Annual! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 46444 Posted October 12, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 12, 2013 Congratulations as well Chris. Does that mean you get a gold plated 'Flying Scotsman' with engraving as a gesture to celebrate your 50 years service? Cheers, Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edcayton Posted October 12, 2013 Share Posted October 12, 2013 If he's lucky he'll get that Flying Scotsman clock! Ed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium dagrizz Posted October 12, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 12, 2013 Congratulations, a wonderful achievement. Graham Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 46444 Posted October 12, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 12, 2013 If he's lucky he'll get that Flying Scotsman clock! Ed Think that would be a 'tasteful gesture' to commemorate this wonderful achievement. Not sure if Chris would like it though? Cheers, Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium kevinlms Posted October 12, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 12, 2013 Just happen to have a copy of MRC for March 1967 in front of me, where there is an article on 'Lady of Quality' converting the Tri-ang Hall model to a Saint, by a certain C.J. Leigh. For those interested, there are 2 photos of 2098 taken around 44 years apart, showing significant variations. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Revolution Ben Posted October 12, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 12, 2013 Hi Chris Wow - many congratulations. It's an amazing achievement and recognition is well deserved. I wonder if there is anyone starting out in railway journalism this year who will still be writing about model trains in 2063? And if so, what form will the models take back then? And will blue diesels still be considered "modern image"?? cheers Ben A. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Pannier Tank Posted October 12, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 12, 2013 Around about now I chalk up 50 years since I started as a Junior Editorial Assistant on Model Railway Constructor in the Autumn of 1963. As a young lad I remember reading my dads copy of MRC at that time. Congratulations on your achievement Chris. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibber25 Posted October 12, 2013 Author Share Posted October 12, 2013 If he's lucky he'll get that Flying Scotsman clock! Ed Noooooooooo! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium kevinlms Posted October 12, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 12, 2013 Chris You must have met many interesting people in this hobby over the years. Any surprises out there, perhaps some famous modellers who mostly kept their hobby secret, or maybe modellers who had a reputation, but turned out entirely different? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibber25 Posted October 12, 2013 Author Share Posted October 12, 2013 Hi Chris Wow - many congratulations. It's an amazing achievement and recognition is well deserved. I wonder if there is anyone starting out in railway journalism this year who will still be writing about model trains in 2063? And if so, what form will the models take back then? And will blue diesels still be considered "modern image"?? cheers Ben A. It would be good to think so. When I started, IAL was the training ground for such careers. Since then it has become EMAP/Bauer that trains the young railway journalists of the future. I recall when I was at IA during the 1980s, a phone call from a very anxious Christopher Wain, who had just been appointed transport correspondent by the BBC. He wanted to know what I could tell him about railways. I hope I helped. I also, during a Railfest at York some years ago, was approached by a 15-year-old who asked what he should do to become a railway journalist. I suggested he came for work experience to find out if he liked it. He did - two years running. He's now Deputy Editor of Steam Railway. I think, too, I was the first Editor to give Pat Hammond a regular 'slot' and the first to feature Steve Flint's Kyle of Tongue layout and subsequently to commission him to photograph layouts. Mike Wild also learned his trade in what was then EMAP's transport division. A very delightful gentleman, who died tragically young, David Lloyd, who was (I think - I'm getting very bad with remembering names) Editor of Continental Modeller and Assistant Editor of Railway Modeller, once worked out that we who were railway/model railway editorial folk were an elite bunch of no more than 150 worldwide. I guess even though there are more magazines now, the economics of running them mean fewer staff, so I bet that number hasn't gone up that much. As to the question above about interesting people - oh, yes, and it has been a real privilege. My piece for Model Rail mentions a few from the early days. Perhaps there are four from within the 'business' who stand out as having influenced me as great people within our hobby as well as really great people to work with/for. Alan Williams - Editor of MRC and my boss when I joined in 1963. Went through my work with a blue pencil and taught me HOW to write magazine articles. He also laid down rules for product reviews which have been my guiding principles ever since. Alistair B. MacLeod - 'Uncle Mac' ex-BR Isle of Wight CME and LMR Stores Controller was IA librarian. He knew the Lynton & Barnstaple first hand and would scold me because I couldn't recognise a McIntosh chimney. Colin Gifford - as magazine designer at IAL he rocked the boat. His photography was loved or hated (I loved it) but it was his ideas for pushing the boundaries of model photography that really influenced me. Much of what we did was faked, but without Photoshop. It was innovative modelling and a degree of darkroom chicanery but I think it resulted (1964-66) in some of the best B&W model images ever. Steve Stratten - Editor of MRC for over 20 years and a tireless worker for the model railway hobby particularly through clubs and exhibitions. He brought new thought to the magazine and introduced me to the delights of overseas railways, and road vehicles and scenic modelling. Steve became my boss in 1966 and we have been friends ever since. Thank you, everyone for your kind comments. I didn't post on here in order to solicit such nice thoughts, but really just to 'advertise' the next issue of MR, knowing that there are one or two on here who enjoy Backscene. Thank you one and all, CHRIS LEIGH Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.